On March 20, 2025, Indian security forces engaged in two separate operations in Chhattisgarh state, resulting in the deaths of at least 22 Maoist rebels, marking one of the deadliest clashes in recent efforts to suppress the insurgency. The first encounter occurred at dawn in Bijapur district, where 18 rebels and one paramilitary soldier were killed. A subsequent skirmish in the state’s southern region led to the deaths of four additional insurgents. Authorities recovered caches of arms and ammunition from both sites, with search operations ongoing.
The decades-long Maoist insurgency, known as the “Naxalite” rebellion, has resulted in over 10,000 fatalities, with rebels advocating for the rights of marginalized communities in India’s resource-rich central regions. The Indian government has intensified its crackdown on the insurgents, with Interior Minister Amit Shah emphasizing a zero-tolerance policy toward those unwilling to surrender. In 2024, security forces reportedly killed around 287 rebels, primarily in Chhattisgarh, and over 80 Maoists have been killed so far this year.
The Maoists, inspired by Chinese revolutionary leader Mao Zedong, demand land, jobs, and a share of the region’s natural resources for local residents. Their insurgency, which began in 1967, has seen periodic clashes and casualties on both sides, with the rebels ambushing police, destroying government offices, and abducting officials.
